"You know, come to deep-think of it, the island of Mata Nui was not really so bad. Think we could go back?"
Return to Metru Nui
With the tales of their past heroism told, the Turaga of Mata Nui led the Matoran and the legendary Toa Nuva back to their long-lost home—Metru Nui. After a thousand years of desolation, the once-thriving city lay in ruin, ravaged by the Visorak horde. Yet, under the guidance of Turaga Dume, the Rahaga, and the enigmatic Keetongu, the Matoran set to work, striving to rebuild the fallen metropolis.
But as the city stirred with new life, an ominous truth was revealed. Gazing into the stars, Turaga Dume and Nuju discerned a fate more dire than any before: Mata Nui, the Great Spirit, was dying.
Summoning the Turaga, Toa Nuva, and the radiant warrior Takanuva to a clandestine meeting, Dume shared his revelation. The only salvation lay in the Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life—an artifact of unfathomable power, hidden within the cursed lands of Voya Nui, the so-called Island of Doom. Yet, the path to this forsaken place was treacherous, with only the ancient Toa Canisters capable of carrying heroes safely to its shores.
However, one grim decree was made: Takanuva was forbidden from joining the expedition. The stars whispered of a different destiny for him, one tied irrevocably to Metru Nui. Though doubt gnawed at them, the Toa Nuva steeled their resolve, boarded their canisters, and vanished into the unknown, bound for a land that promised only peril.
Yet, unseen shadows moved in the ruins of Metru Nui. Ancient and Voporak, enforcers of the Dark Hunters, prowled the broken city, their gaze fixed upon a different prize—the Kanohi Vahi, the Mask of Time. Their mission was clear, but for now, they lingered in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Piraka's defection
In the aftermath of whispered rumors that Makuta Teridax had perished, six rogue Skakdi—Zaktan, Vezok, Hakann, Reidak, Avak, and Thok—severed their ties with the Dark Hunters, forsaking their past allegiances for their own ambition. Once, millennia ago, Zaktan had led all but Avak in a failed coup against the Shadowed One; now, the six struck out on their own. Vezok, recalling an insult once hurled at him by the Dark Hunter Ancient, christened their band with a name both scornful and defiant—Piraka.
Aboard a small vessel, the Piraka navigated treacherous waters to Mangaia, the Maze of Shadows that had once served as Teridax's lair. There, amid the wreckage of his ruined domain, they discovered what appeared to be the lifeless remains of the Makuta, his form mangled beneath the weight of a fallen gate. Reidak, ever reckless, seized Teridax's Kanohi Kraahkan, only for the mask to lash out with bolts of shadow, forcing him to cast it into the Silver Sea. In the depths of the chamber, Hakann unearthed the Spear of Fusion, an artifact of devastating power. With cold amusement, he turned its force upon Vezok, rending him in two. From that moment, a new being emerged—Vezon, infused with Vezok's cunning but bereft of his strength or sanity. A frenzied battle erupted between them, forcing Zaktan to intervene.
Even as the Piraka quarreled, a whisper threaded its way into their thoughts—a compulsion, subtle and insidious, urging them toward a singular goal: the Mask of Life. Unbeknownst to them, Teridax, ever watchful in his intangible state, had planted the idea within their minds. Greedy for the power it promised, the Piraka seized upon the quest as their own. Yet before they could depart, the monstrous Mana Ko, ancient guardians placed within the labyrinth by the Order of Mata Nui, descended upon them in relentless pursuit. Fleeing the creatures' wrath, the six abandoned Mangaia, while Vezon, unseen in the chaos, vanished into the shadows, clutching the Spear of Fusion and setting his own course for Voya Nui.
Upon escaping to the island of Mata Nui, the Piraka stumbled upon the sacred site of Kini-Nui, where six Toa Canisters—once the vessels of the legendary Toa Mata—stood enshrined. From this relic of the past, Zaktan wove a deceitful scheme: upon reaching Voya Nui, they would masquerade as Toa, manipulating the native Matoran to further their ambitions. With this deception in mind, the Piraka boarded the canisters and cast themselves upon the tides, though treachery was already festering among them. Hakann, harboring his own designs, sabotaged Vezok's vessel with his searing heat vision before dispatching a covert message to the Shadowed One, offering to betray his companions for power and favor.
From the dark stronghold of Odina, the Shadowed One stirred. He dispatched his enforcers—Sentrakh, Amphibax, and the enigmatic Kraata-Kal—to hunt the traitorous Piraka and claim them before they could seize their prize. As further precaution, he stationed Dark Hunters along the shores of Zakaz, ensuring that should the six ever seek refuge upon their homeland, they would find only a noose awaiting them.
And so, the Piraka's ill-fated path was set—toward the cursed island of Voya Nui, where deceit and betrayal would weave their fates in the web of greater powers unseen.
Piraka's arrival on Voya Nui
The Piraka descended upon the desolate island of Voya Nui, masquerading as Toa to deceive its unsuspecting Matoran inhabitants. Having not encountered true Toa since Jovan's era during the Great Disruption, the Matoran welcomed them as saviors. Yet, beneath their guise, the Piraka sowed cruelty and domination. They enslaved the Matoran, forcing them to drain the Lake of Lava, while a separate team, led by Velika, toiled to erect a vast stronghold. Within its depths, Zaktan gathered remnants of Teridax's dark essence in a vat, oblivious to the sinister power he had harnessed.
Garan and Kazi, growing suspicious of the Piraka's intentions, uncovered the construction of six mysterious launchers, meant not for defense but for oppression. Stealing one of the weapons, they conspired with four others—Balta, Velika, Dalu, and Piruk—to resist their false Toa overlords.
Sensing doubt spreading among the Matoran, Hakann and Avak conspired to solidify their deception. They conjured a monstrous entity of Fire and Stone to assail Mount Valmai, only to feign heroism by vanquishing it. Their ruse was successful—the Matoran's faith was restored. However, Garan and Balta, trailing the so-called Toa, overheard damning whispers of their past as Dark Hunters. With their suspicions confirmed, Garan declared the formation of the Matoran Resistance, seeking refuge in a hidden mountain sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Zaktan refined the dark energies of Teridax, which he dubbed "antidermis," and infused them into Zamor Spheres. To test its power, he commanded Avak to retrieve a Matoran. The unfortunate victim, Dezalk, was subjected to the essence's corruption and transformed into an obedient thrall. Realizing the potency of their discovery, the Piraka orchestrated a mass enslavement.
Under Dezalk's influence, nearly all of Voya Nui's Matoran gathered, believing in a great meeting with their supposed protectors. But when the Piraka arrived, they unleashed their tainted spheres, subjugating the entire populace. Only six Matoran—the Resistance—escaped their clutches. Arriving too late, they found Dezalk abandoned, cast aside as his usefulness waned. Tracking their enslaved kin to Mount Valmai, they watched in horror as their brethren labored without rest, draining the volcano's heart. Some, too weak to continue, plummeted into the lava, their lives extinguished by the very force they once revered. Garan's horror turned to fury; they could not remain passive any longer.
From the shadows, Piruk observed the Piraka's every move, whispering his findings to the Resistance.
Meanwhile, across the sea in Metru Nui, Jaller grew restless. The Toa Nuva had vanished, and the Turaga withheld the truth. His patience eroded. In a defiant act, he declared a city-wide strike—no reconstruction, no obedience—until the elders relented. The silence of Metru Nui deepened, as the embers of rebellion ignited once more.
Arrival of the Toa Nuva
The Toa Nuva arrived on the western shores of Voya Nui, expecting a swift conflict, if any, and the effortless retrieval of the Kanohi Ignika. Their assumptions were quickly shattered as Hakann and Reidak ambushed them. Reidak's unrelenting assault forced the Toa to divert their focus onto him, while the remaining Piraka, alerted by the commotion, hastened to join the fray. Zaktan, ever suspicious, contemplated the possibility of betrayal among his own ranks and resolved to eliminate the Toa with overwhelming force.
Elsewhere, Balta exploited Vezok's distraction to steal several of his Zamor Spheres. Pursued by Vezok and Thok, Balta managed to pass the spheres to his allies before vanishing into the wilderness.
Meanwhile, the Toa Nuva, unaware of the Piraka's treacherous abilities, quickly found themselves overmatched. Hakann felled Gali with a devastating mental blast. Avak ensnared Kopaka within an impenetrable prison. Tahu was overwhelmed by Zaktan's relentless protodite swarm. Lewa, Pohatu, and Onua eventually subdued Reidak, but their victory was short-lived—soon after, they too succumbed to the Piraka's assault. With their enemies incapacitated, Zaktan commanded that the Toa Nuva be stripped of their masks and weapons before being cast into the fiery abyss of Mount Valmai.
Back on Metru Nui, Nokama secretly disclosed to Jaller that the Toa Nuva had embarked for Voya Nui but had yet to return. Driven by duty and defiance, Jaller assembled a company of six Matoran—Hahli, Kongu, Nuparu, Hewkii, and Matoro—alongside Takanuva, who eagerly sought adventure. Their journey led them through an underwater chute to a desolate land on the southern rim of Metru Nui's dome. Upon discovering a tunnel leading further south, Takanuva ventured ahead but was inexplicably swallowed by the darkness. Despite multiple attempts, the tunnel devoured all light and sound.
Determined, Jaller led his team forward in groups. During this passage, Matoro unknowingly guided an unseen presence through the tunnel—unbeknownst to him, this enigmatic entity was the Mask of Life itself, testing his worthiness.
On Voya Nui, Garan and Dalu worried over Balta's absence, but their concerns were interrupted by Piruk's warning—the Piraka were near. Dragging the Toa Nuva's battered forms toward Mount Valmai, the Piraka prepared to cast them into its maw, but a sudden eruption forced them to retreat. As molten fire surged forth, the Toa, barely conscious, scrambled for survival. Tahu, regaining his faculties, called upon Pohatu to raise stone barriers against the encroaching lava. Gali was carried to safety, but Kopaka sustained burns before being aided by Tahu. They fled northwest, escaping the infernal tide.
Turaga Dume soon discovered Jaller's departure and furiously convened the Turaga. Nokama confessed her role in revealing the Toa Nuva's fate, though she had not foreseen Jaller's boldness.
Meanwhile, Balta, sealed within a cavern by Vezok, neared unconsciousness when Axonn intervened, carving an escape route and saving him. Axonn urged Balta to warn his comrades against attacking the Toa Nuva before disappearing into the shadows.
As Jaller's team neared a precarious land bridge, surrounded by the churning sea, they stumbled upon a Great Mask—revealed to be the Suletu, Mask of Telepathy. Takanuva donned it, momentarily linking minds with Hahli. Pressing forward, the Toa Nuva, now rested, found themselves in an unexpected skirmish with the Matoran Resistance. The Toa, unwilling to harm their own kind, struggled against the Matoran's relentless attacks. Dalu's Chargers overwhelmed Gali, distorting her senses into madness. Enraged, Kopaka nearly retaliated lethally but was restrained by his allies. The battle teetered on the edge of disaster until Balta arrived, urging a ceasefire. Onua removed his armor in an act of vulnerability, proving the Toa's sincerity. Garan, convinced, forged an uneasy alliance with the Toa against the Piraka.
Within the Piraka's stronghold, Zaktan seethed at his subordinates' failure to execute his orders. Brutaka, a formidable and enigmatic force, received a Zamor Sphere laced with antidermis but emerged not weakened, but instead infused with newfound malevolence. After a brief exchange with Zaktan, Brutaka departed—unbeknownst to him, Hakann trailed his steps. Zaktan, aware of the treachery, let Hakann pursue his fate, hoping Brutaka would eliminate the nuisance.
Gali, driven to the brink of insanity, wandered aimlessly before stumbling upon Axonn. Enraged and disoriented, she attacked, but her efforts proved futile. Axonn, indifferent to her assault, cleansed her mind of its torment, erasing the agonizing visions that had plagued her. Bewildered but restored, she heeded his cryptic words and journeyed back to reunite with her team.
As Jaller's group pressed on, they encountered an ancient gateway. Takanuva attempted to follow, but an unseen force repelled him. The barrier permitted Matoran passage but barred beings of light. Separated from his comrades, Takanuva bid Jaller farewell and began his solitary return to Metru Nui, while the six Matoran ventured forth into the unknown, pondering the trials that awaited them beyond the gate.
The battle for Voya Nui was far from over. The storm had only begun.
The land of Karzahni
Jaller and his group ventured through a formidable gate, scaling an immense cliff. Hours into their ascent, unsettling scuttling noises echoed around them, though no source was visible. Their search led them to a terrified Matoran, whose urgent gestures beckoned them forward. As they followed, a horde of Manas surrounded them, compelling their submission.
Guided into a vast and surreal canyon, they encountered Matoran twisted in form and spirit, imprisoned in a reality where nature defied its own laws: ice burned within erupting volcanoes, rocks emitted tormented screams, and dust cascaded like waterfalls. Amidst this nightmarish landscape, Hahli's gaze fell upon a monstrous metal fortress, as vast as the Coliseum, its spires twisted into grotesque formations. Their journey culminated in an audience with Karzahni, a figure of legend spoken of in hushed tones by the Turaga. Yet, the tyrant dismissed any knowledge of Mata Nui or Makuta. Asserting his dominance, he seized their possessions and commanded them to remove their masks. Jaller, reluctant to part with Turaga Lhikan's Kanohi, was forced into submission by Karzahni's Kanohi Olisi, which plunged them all into a vision of a doomed timeline where Jaller had never sacrificed himself for Takua. Shaken by the apocalyptic spectacle, he removed his mask.
On the storm-wracked surface of Voya Nui, Hakann's patience wore thin as he trailed Brutaka for hours. In a sudden twist, Brutaka disappeared, only to reappear with his blade at Hakann's throat. A tenuous alliance formed: Brutaka would aid Hakann in overthrowing Zaktan in exchange for more Antidermis-laced Zamor Spheres. Yet, deceit lurked beneath their words, as neither intended to honor the pact.
Meanwhile, the Toa Nuva and the Matoran Resistance devised a plan to reclaim the Toa's stolen tools and masks from the Piraka's grasp. Elsewhere, Avak and Thok, scouring the Green Belt for the Toa, deduced that the Mask of Life lay beneath the fertile land rather than in Mount Valmai, suspecting Zaktan's supposed focus on the volcano to be a ruse. Determined to retaliate, they set forth to confront their leader.
In Karzahni's domain, Jaller's group donned new masks, with Kongu seizing the opportunity to claim a Suletu. Karzahni, amused by their defiance, assigned them to tend to the infernal forges, except for Hahli, whom he detained to extract knowledge of the outside world. As she reluctantly complied, Karzahni wove his own tale—a history entwined with his brother Artakha and his failed dominion over Matoran sent for repair. Those unfortunate souls, unable to be properly restored, were twisted into feeble versions of themselves and armed with weapons to compensate for their frailty. The Turaga, realizing the fate of those they had sent, severed ties with Karzahni.
Elsewhere, the shadows of betrayal darkened the Piraka Stronghold. Avak ensnared Zaktan in an agonizing prison of sound, while Thok seized control of the Piraka. Hakann, however, had other plans—he unleashed a barrage of lava spheres, incapacitating Avak and nearly freeing Zaktan. Their infighting was interrupted by Hakann's trump card: Brutaka. With a single, devastating strike, the titan downed all six Toa Nuva and their Matoran allies, leaving them at the mercy of the Piraka.
As Karzahni's slaves toiled, Nuparu uncovered tablets detailing the grim fate of those who entered this realm, and an ancient Matoran revealed a long-buried secret: six Toa Canisters lay hidden within Karzahni's depths. Jaller resolved to claim them as their escape, but their actions did not go unnoticed. Karzahni, furious at their defiance, pursued them with Hahli in tow, prepared to shatter their last hope of freedom.
In a final gamble, Matoro tricked Karzahni into revealing a vision of unparalleled devastation: the impending death of Mata Nui and the collapse of the universe itself. Karzahni, struck by the gravity of the revelation, faltered in his wrath. Seizing the opportunity, the Matoran reclaimed Hahli and launched the Toa Canisters, escaping the forsaken realm.
As they vanished into the horizon, Karzahni, now aware of Mata Nui's perilous slumber, devised his own ambitions. With renewed determination, he set his sights on Voya Nui, intent on forging an empire amidst the chaos.
Reign of the Piraka
Dalu awoke to find her allies dragged toward the Chamber of Truth. While Zaktan basked in his victory over the Toa Nuva, she slipped away. Recaptured atop a jagged hill, she feigned surrender, only for Hakann and Zaktan's bickering to turn violent. As Zaktan crushed his rival beneath a boulder, Dalu vanished once more.
Elsewhere, betrayal ran rampant—Thok cast Reidak from a cliff, only for Reidak to return the favor with brutal force. In the jungle, Avak sought alliance with Vezok, but their schemes were interrupted by Axonn, who lured them into a collapsing cave. Before vanishing, he warned Balta: Mata Nui was dying.
The Piraka's infighting escalated as Zaktan sent Thok and Reidak after Vezon. They tracked him to a deserted Toa Canister, but the land itself turned against them, swallowing them into an abyss. They clawed their way free, only to be confronted by Axonn, who revealed Vezon's servitude to the Ignika. Axonn struck—but before he could finish them, Brutaka emerged from the shadows, felling him in a single blow.
Sensing weakness in Zaktan's rule, Hakann and his allies devised a Zamor Sphere capable of stealing divine power. As treachery festered, the war for the Ignika began in earnest.
Arrival of the Toa Inika
As the storm-tossed waves lashed against their canisters, six warriors approached the forsaken island of Voya Nui. Jaller, Hahli, Kongu, Nuparu, Hewkii, and Matoro, bound by destiny yet unaware of the trials ahead, felt a force beyond their comprehension at work. The Red Star, enacting an ancient contingency, unleashed bolts of raw power upon them—Toa energy, infused through lightning, searing through their very essence. As the storm passed, six figures emerged, reborn as the Toa Inika. Their own Spirit Stars illuminated the night sky, drawing the wary eyes of the island's conquerors—the Piraka.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of oppression, the Matoran Resistance struggled to survive. Near the Chamber of Truth, Balta stirred, only to find Dalu missing. Rallying his allies, he led them in a daring rescue of Garan, still held captive. In a moment of revelation, Velika unveiled a secret—Energized Protodermis, a substance capable of severing the bonds of antidermis that shackled their kin. He began forging Zamor Launchers, their only hope of salvation.
As the Toa Inika grappled with their transformations, they discovered strange new abilities, some surfacing by accident—Matoro's Kanohi Iden casting his spirit free from his body. Drifting unseen through the air, he spied the Matoran Resistance and carried the knowledge back to his team. Seeking answers, they ventured forth, only to be ambushed by Vezok. Yet, the Piraka's poisoned weapons failed against the Toa's unnatural immunity to antidermis. Though they subdued him, Vezok turned their own powers against them and escaped. Soon after, Garan appeared, offering them insight into the island's grim fate before leading them to the rebels' hidden sanctuary.
Within the Mountain Hideaway, alliances were forged, and a plan took shape. Armed with Velika's Zamor Launchers, the warriors divided into three factions. Jaller, Hahli, Dalu, and Piruk struck at the Piraka's grip on the enslaved Matoran, shattering chains and igniting rebellion. Hewkii, Matoro, Kazi, and Balta sought out Axonn, only to find the mighty guardian broken and bleeding, a casualty of Brutaka's treachery. His command was simple—Brutaka must be stopped, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Kongu, Nuparu, Garan, and Velika infiltrated the enemy stronghold, dismantling a Nektann sentry before stepping into the lion's den.
There, within the Piraka's lair, fate converged. The six warlords, alongside Brutaka, stood in defiance. Battle erupted, a violent tempest of steel, shadow, and lightning. The Toa Inika faced their foes in brutal single combat. Nuparu seized Zaktan, carrying them both skyward in a desperate gambit. Amid the chaos, treachery brewed—Hakann, plotting from the dark, unleashed a stolen Zamor Sphere upon Brutaka, yet Thok, ever cunning, siphoned half of its power for himself. Together, the two rebels rose above their peers, turning their newfound strength against all who opposed them. The Piraka fell, shackled in their own prison. The Toa Inika, exhausted and broken, were cast down.
With none left to challenge them, Hakann and Thok forced Brutaka to yield his knowledge. From trembling lips came the whispered truth—the Mask of Life, the Ignika, lay hidden beyond the 777 Stairs. Without hesitation, the two betrayers vanished into the depths, leaving only silence and ruin in their wake.
Deep within the stronghold, amidst the dust of forgotten records, the Matoran uncovered a final revelation—a place lost to time, whispered only in legend. The name echoed through the corridors of their minds, a harbinger of yet another journey to come.
Mahri Nui.
Race for the Mask of Life
Nuparu returned Zaktan to the Piraka stronghold, liberating the Toa Inika, who soon discovered Brutaka's betrayal of the Ignika's location. As Axonn, still wounded, arrived with a grim resolve to stop Hakann and Thok, Jaller convinced him to let them aid in the battle. Understanding that the key to their enemies' defeat lay in restoring Brutaka's lost power, the Toa were forced into an uneasy truce with the Piraka, who alone possessed the knowledge to create a Zamor Sphere capable of reversing the effect. As the Piraka worked on the sphere, Axonn gifted Jaller a glowing Zamor for "protection" and warned of the horrors guarding the Mask of Life. When the alliance departed for the Green Belt, Axonn remained behind to guard Brutaka.
Within the verdant expanse of the Green Belt, Hakann and Thok, driven by their greed, turned on one another, their violent conflict shattering the landscape and unveiling the entrance to the 777 Stairs. Drawn by the devastation, the Toa Inika and the remaining Piraka arrived to challenge them. Though Hakann and Thok easily overpowered the other Piraka, they found themselves unable to subdue the Toa Inika. In a final bid for dominance, the two Piraka forged a momentary alliance and launched a devastating attack, only to be struck down as Hewkii unleashed the Zamor Sphere, restoring Brutaka's might. With all combatants falling unconscious, only Zaktan remained standing.
Back at the stronghold, Brutaka awoke to Axonn's solemn gaze. Offered redemption, he sneered in response, and former allies prepared for a battle that would determine their fates.
Zaktan reawakened his Piraka brethren, reforging their allegiance, and led them into the 777 Stairs. As they descended, Zaktan reflected upon the treacherous path that had led them here. Meanwhile, the Toa Inika, realizing their adversaries had entered the labyrinth, pursued without hesitation. Matoro, employing his mask's spectral abilities, infiltrated the Piraka's path unseen.
Upon reaching a fork in the tunnels, the Piraka found themselves trapped in the Zone of Nightmares. There, the monstrous Irnakk emerged, manifesting their greatest fears into reality. Zaktan, however, discerned the creature's nature—fear itself given form. Turning terror into a weapon, he shattered Irnakk's illusion and forced it into nothingness.
The Toa Inika, following in the Piraka's footsteps, encountered an illusion of Toa Lhikan, warning them of doom. Undeterred, they faced an onslaught of spectral foes—Makuta Teridax, a Turahk, a Bohrok, and more—only for their fallen enemies to be revealed as the corpses of the Toa Nuva. Though shaken, Jaller led them forward, unmasking the deception and proving their resolve.
Meanwhile, the battle between Axonn and Brutaka raged on. Brutaka, wielding his Kanohi Olmak, sought to banish his former friend into the abyss, but Axonn, undeterred, retaliated with overwhelming force. In desperation, Brutaka turned to the vat of Antidermis, yet before he could harness its dark power, Axonn obliterated it. Struck down, Brutaka fell unconscious, his defiance shattered. Botar arrived, seizing the fallen warrior for judgment, warning Axonn against interference. As the portal sealed behind them, Krahka and the Tahtorak emerged from its remnants.
Deeper within the labyrinth, the Piraka were ensnared in a cruel trial—a flooded chamber with a singular escape. Each locked in separate cylinders, they were given a choice: pull their levers together and live, or betray one another for solitary survival. Reidak, ever the brute, chose treachery, only for fate to punish them all—cast into mutagenic waters, they barely escaped to the Lava Chamber Gate, where the Toa Inika soon confronted them.
The Toa Inika, before reaching their enemies, endured their own trial in the Chamber of Death. A spectral voice declared that passage required sacrifice. Without hesitation, Matoro offered himself, believing his worth the least among his brothers. Engulfed in energy, he seemingly perished, only to be restored—proven worthy of the path ahead.
In the Lava Chamber, the Piraka launched their assault. Kongu, in desperation, summoned a cyclone, collapsing the chamber and burying the Toa. Believing them dead, the Piraka pressed forward, reaching the Chamber of Life, where they found Vezon—the deranged half-being fused with the Ignika. He mockingly offered the Mask of Life in exchange for Vezok's death, but Zaktan, seeing through the deception, refused. In retaliation, Vezon used the Spear of Fusion to merge Vezok and Reidak into a monstrous entity, which quickly overwhelmed the other Piraka.
At the same time, Axonn, enraged by Brutaka's corruption, unleashed his full might. Brutaka, desperate, sought aid from the Antidermis, but Axonn shattered it before he could reach salvation. With a final, devastating strike, Brutaka was defeated, and Botar seized him for punishment. As he disappeared, Axonn swore silently that he would one day free his fallen friend.
Meanwhile, the battle within the Chamber of Life reached its peak. Vezon, wielding the newly transformed Kardas Dragon, stood nearly invincible. Yet, through a telepathic link, Kongu discerned the Ignika's will—it rejected Vezon, choosing Matoro instead. This revelation sent Vezon into a blind rage, giving Jaller the opportunity to strike with Axonn's enchanted Zamor Sphere. Frozen in stasis, Vezon and Kardas fell, leaving the Ignika unguarded. Matoro seized the mask, only for it to escape, soaring up the 777 Stairs with the Toa Inika and the surviving Piraka in pursuit.
On the surface, the Ignika plunged into the ocean. Hahli, driven by duty, dove after it, but the crushing depths nearly claimed her. A dying Ta-Matoran emerged from the abyss, gasping out a cryptic plea before succumbing to the weight of his final breath.
With their mission unfinished, the Toa Inika were directed to continue their journey alone. Tahu Nuva, knowing the truth but withholding it, promised they would await their return. With Axonn safeguarding the Matoran, the Toa Inika descended into the abyss of the Black Waters, vanishing into the unknown in pursuit of the Mask of Life.